Portable manually operable plating device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JEAN J G. .Z'CX/ /nvd/w J. J. G. [CXI PORTABLE MANUALLY OPERABLE PLATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 19, 1952 Nov. 22, 1960 ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1960 .1.J. G. lcxl PORTABLE MANUALLY OPERABLE PLATINE DEVICE Filed Nov. 19, 1952 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR .15A/Vy 6 Icx/ BY QV i ATTORNEYS absorbed electrolyte.

United States lPatent O PORTABLE MANUALLY OPERABLE PLA'IING DEVICE Jean Jacques Georges Icxi, 29 Rue Dareau, Paris, France Filed Nov. 19, 1952, Ser. No. 321,327

Claims priority, application France Mar. 23, 1948 11 Claims. (Cl. 204-224) The present invention relates to apparatus for electroplating and is more particularly concerned with portable manually operated apparatus for applying the electrolyte and a positive source o-f electrical current to the surfaces to be plated. The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending U.S. application Serial No. 82,263, led March 18, 1949, now abandoned.

In the method of electroplating employing the present apparatus, the electrolyte containing a salt of the metal to be plated out is absorbed by an element of the apparatus which is then applied to the surface to be plated without the necessity of immersing the surface being treated in a plating bath. T-he negative terminal of a source of plating current is attached to the treated surface and the positive terminal is attachedto an'ano-de carried by the plating apparatus and in contact with `the The electrical current therefor passes through the electrolyte between the anode and the negative surface, causing the metal to be deposited `on said surface.

The principal `object of the present invention is to provide a portable manually operable plating device that is capable of industrial utilization in that it will yield in a very short time, plating coats of a thickness and quality comparable to bath plating and can ybe used for in- Vdefinite periods permittingextended platings to be applied in a relatively short time.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a manually operable plating device which can utilize high current densities for long periods o-f time -in the plating operation without undue heating of the elev-ments lthereof, 4thereby protecting the operato-r and apparatus from injury or damage.

A s'till further and equally important 4object of the invention is to provide a portable plating device having substantially 4an unlimited supply of electrolyte for continuous Aand extensive plating operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide -a man- `ually operable plating device of comparatively light- Fig. l is a side perspective view `of a portable vman- Y 'ually operable plating device according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front velevation with vparts -in section and broken'away to show the details of the device of `Fig. `1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of plating device, and,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through va further modification ofv a 4plating device according to the invention.

n Referring vnow -more in detail to Ythe accompanying drawings, vwherein like and corresponding parts are designated oy `similar reference characters, Figs. 1 fand-12;v

' said cylinder.

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show a portable manually operable plating device having a handle 1 from which extends ,an annular body 2. vSaid handle and body are made of two Vpieces of material and body 2 is formed with an internal cavity which iis closed by a pair of circular plates 3, one on each Aside of said body, and fastened together by nuts and .bolts 4 extending therethrough. Body 2 has a tangentially extending opening 5 through which extends a Atube 6 to be connected to a source of an electrolyte, Theforward end of tube 6 has a substantially perpendicularly extending closed end tube 7 having a series (1f 4perforations 8 extending therealong. Each plate 3 has a curved arm 9 and 10 respectively extending therefrom and forwardly in a direction substantially parallel with Isaid tube 6. A tube 12 is connected to arm 10 by means of a plug 13, while arm 9 has a similar tube 11 attached thereto by a Aplug 14. Further, arm 9 has a threaded end upon which is mounted a connector cap 1-5 ,in threaded engagement therewith. Similarly, arm :10 a threaded end portion upon which is screwed a lconnector cap 16. A pair of tubes 17 and 18 extending contiguously from the ends of -said arms 9 and v101espectively and between said tubes is mounted .a roller consisting of a pair of end plates `19 mounted .on and closing the opposite ends of a carbon tube 20.

Arm 9 has a longitudinal ybore .21 extending ltherethrough, while arm 10 hasa-similar bore 22. Ametallic tube 23 is mounted in the end of bore 21 and has a bore 24 of its own into which extends thereduced end portion 2S of an elongated cylinder 26. The main ,p0rtion .of cylinder 2.6 extends withinthe bore of `.tube Y17, while the closed bottom end-thereof has athreaded opening 27. Tube 17 vhas a flange 28 extending from the top end thereof land abutting against arm 9 v21nd tube 23. Cap 15 has said ange `28 positioned therein and upon the tightening of said-cap on arm 9, Vdraws tube 17 tightly against the bottom Avend of said arm. Ihe lower closed end of tube 17 also has a threaded opening 29 inline with opening 27 of cylinder 26. l

The threaded v'end portion 3,0 of a shaft is screwed through openings 27 and 29 with opening 351 Ao'fsaid shaft positioned in 'line with a bore of `cylindergl and thus placing the elongated passage 32 of -said shaft in communication with said bore. Passage 32 extends 1towards the middle p ortion of saidrshaftV where a plurality of radially extending openings 83 are in communication therewith. n

The opposite end of said `shaft has asimilar passageway 34 in'communication'with radially extending openings 35 and the opposite thread'edf end '-36 of saidshaft extends within tube 18. Between Vtube 1"7 and-,one plate 19 is positioned a spacer nut 237, while-asimilar -nut -38 is positioned between Vtube L18 and `the other .of said plates 19. Each -of said plates 2191has a centr-a1 bore providing a r'aceWay-for l-ball bearings '39 permitting :said plates to freely rotate. v'lfheinterior vbore mlof l.cjarb'on tube 20 is in communication with' said openings `33 an`d l35 andthe periphery Aof'tube 20 aisiencase'd infant-absorbent mass y41. .Further said plates' 1?9 fhave reduced Ythreaded portions 42 each screwedinto "athreaded .end

ing 34 andinas threaded endxs vextending theft-'mman passagewayf34 being iin communication withv bore eti/fof Tube 18 hasafiilange 548 positioned within'fcapili whereby-'said atub'e can bel drawn :against ythe ao'penfiendiof arm 20. A metallic tube 49 is mounted within the bore 22 of arm 10 and has a bore 50 of its own into which is inserted reduced portion 45 of cylinder 44.

An electrical connecting wire 51 is lixedly connected to tube 49, While another branch 52 of the same Wire is fixedly connected to tube 23. Wires 51 and 52 extend through arms 9 and 10 into body 2 and outwardly through a tube 53 for connection to a source of electrical current.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of plating device consisting of a cylinder 60 of electrical insulating material having a threaded opening 61 in the top thereof and threaded openings 62 and 63 in one side. A connector 64 for attachment to a positive source of electrical current has a threaded end 65 inserted through said opening 61 and a lock nut 66 for fastening the same in position. A metallic cylinder 67 is mounted within the bore of cylinder 60 and has a threaded recess 68 in the base thereof in threaded engagement with connector 64. Cylinder 67 further has a cavity 69 from which extends an opening 70 into the bore 71. A threaded ange 72 extends from the open end of said cylinder 67 and has peripheral threads 73.

Threaded ends 74 and 75 of liquid tubes 76 and 79 respectively are screwed through openings 62 and 63 of cylinder 60 with tube 76 screwed into the base of cylinder 67 placing its bore 77 in communication with cavity 69, while a lock nut 78 is mounted on threaded end 74 for maintaining the position thereof. Tube 79 extends through an opening 75 of cylinder 67 with its bore 80 in communication with bore 71 and a lock nut 83 is mounted on said threaded end 81 for maintaining the position thereof.

A carbon cylinder 84 having a closed base 85 and internally threaded open end 86 is screwed on to the threads 73 of ange 72 with the bore 87 being in communication With bore 71. A mass of absorbent material 88 surrounds said carbon cylinder 84 and is detachably retained thereon by a band 89. A tube 90 extends through openings 70 and into cavity 69 and also into bores 71 and 87 just short of bottom 85 of said carbon cylinder 84.

Fig. 4 shows a third modification of the present device consisting of a cylinder 95 of electrical insulating material having a threaded top opening 96 through which extends an electrical connecting post 97 whose threaded portion 98 is screwed therethrough and has a lock nut 99 for fastening the same. Within the bore of cylinder 95 is positioned a metallic core 100 having an internally threaded recess 101 into which is screwed post 97 with a reduced extension 102 extending from its opposite side having the opposite end of a metallic cylinder 103 fas- 4tened thereto by threads 104. The base peripheral portion of cylinder 103 is threaded at 105, while a bore 106 extends longitudinally of said cylinder.

A cap 107 of an electrical insulating material has an internally threaded recess 108 receiving the threaded end 105 of said cylinder 103. The base of said recess 108 is stepped as at 109 for supporting the carbon disc 110 therein. A longitudinally extending opening 111 opens into recess 108, while the periphery of cap 107 tapers in- Wardly as at 112, while said opening 111 has an inwardly extending projection 113. Electrolyte absorbing material 114 is inserted within opening 111 and tends to be retained `therein by projections 113.

Cylinder 95 further has a` pair of threaded openings 115 and 116 formed in the side thereof through which are screwed threaded ends of tubes 117 and 118. Tube 117 also screws into a threaded opening in core 100 where its bore 120 is in communication with a bore of a tube 121 extending through an opening 122 of said core. Tube 118 is screwed through a threaded opening 123 of cylinder 103 whereby its bore 124 is in communication with bore 106 of said cylinder. Lock nuts 12S and V126 are used for fastening tubes 117, 118 `in position.

In the operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2',- an electrolyte is forced through tube 6 and out openings 8 onto the absorbent cotton 41 for maintaining a supply;` of electrolyte thereon as said absorbent material is rolledi over the surface to be plated. At the same time electric: current of a positive nature is passed through wires 51' and 52 through metallic tubes 23 and 49 and from there through metallic cylinders 26 and 44 respectively and from thereto the metallic shaft ends 30 and 36. The current then passes through the roller bearings 39 to metallic plates 19 and carbon tube 20 throughout the electrolyte in the mass 41. The surface to be plated is connected to a negative source of current completing the circuit whereby the metal in the electrolyte is deposited on said sur face. Handle 1, body 2, plates 3, arms 9 and 10, caps 15 and 16 and tubes 17 and 18 are all made of an electrical insulating material and also one which will retain water therein and thereby electrically insulate the current conducting elements from outside contact. Tube 11 is connected to a source of coolant, for example water under pressure, whereby the water enters arm 9 and passes through bores 21, 24 into opening 31, passageway 32, out openings 33 into the interior 40 of the roller and back into openings 35 through passageway 34, up through bores 47, 50 and 22 and out tube 12, thus maintaining a complete and continuous charge of coolant throughout all of the elements conducting the electrical current for maintaining the same relatively cool. Tubes 11, 12 and 53 are also of an electrical insulating material.

In this manner currents of high density for example around 300 amperes can be employed for creating a plating of a thickness and quality comparable to those produced in the conventional plating bath and also 1n a very short time. The continuous supply of electrolyte provides for plating of substantially an unlimited area, while the relatively cool elements of the device assures its continuous operation.

In the device of Fig. 3, positive electrical current of a relatively high density is supplied to post 64 and passes from and through cylinder 67 to the carbon cylinder 84 and from there to the electrolyte containing absorbent 88. Said absorbent is moved over the surface to be plated for depositing the metal from the electrolyte thereon. The operator holds the cylinder 60 which is of an insulating material and is protected thereby. A coolant under pressure is introduced through tube 76 into cavity 69 and from there through tube and back up through bores 87 and 71 and out through tube 79 thereby maintaining the electrical conducting elements in a relatively cool condition.

Similarly, the modification shown in Fig. 4 has current introduced by two posts 97 through core 100, cylinder 103 to the carbon disc 110 and from there through the electrolyte in the mass 114 for plating on the negatively charged surface therebeneath.` Coolant under pressure is introduced through tube 117, tube 121 to bore 106 and from there out through the exhaust tube 118.

Tubes 76, 79 and 117, 118 are made of electrical insulating material which is also capable of retaining water whereby the operator can hold either cylinder 60 or 95 for operating either device.

It is to be appreciated that either of the three modications can be readily disassembled when desired and equally as well quickly and readily reassembled, permitting the quick cleaning and repairing of either device providing an economical maintenance thereof.

The foregoing devices are capable of considerable modification and such changes thereto as come within the scope of the appended claims are deemed to be a part of the invention. i

WhatI claim is:

1. A portable manually operable plating device comi prising a body of electrical insulating material providing l a handle and having a pair of forwardly extending tubular arms, electrical conductingmembers mounted ineach apenas-rs therethrough, aeshaftfo'f eurrenneonducting material connectedito andextending betv/eenfsaid -conductingrrne'mb'ers and having passageways in `communication with saidc'on- -ducting v'member passageways, 'a current conducting lroller rotatably mounted on Asaid "shaft, 'absorbent material mounted `on said roll'er for'holding the plating-electrolyte, means for connecting said `conducting members "to a vsource rif-electrical current'and a 'pair of tubes-each connected fto one `of said arms A-for `connecting same to a Asupply of a-coolant under pressure.

VV2. A portable manually'operable 'plating device corn- Kprising `a pair'of tubular meniberseffelectrical insulating material, a hollow body connecting said fmern'bers in substantially parallel vspaced relationship 'and providing a handle for the operator', means for conducting electrical current extending through said body and said mem- 'bers 'and vhaving passageways "therethrough, as'haft "c'onnecting said conducting means in each Et1i'bi1`lar-"rnember and extending between the ends of said tubular memhers, said vshaft having p'a'ssag'eways communicating with :said conducting means passageways, a roller rotatably mounted .on said shaft, an absorbent materialsurroundngfsa'id roller, means for supplyinga coolant'underpres- :sure to one arm and withdrawing it -from the 'other of :said arms after travelling through one arm, said conducting means passageways, said shaft passageways and :through said other arm.

3. A portable manually operable 4plating device comprising a body of electrical insulating material providing 2a handle, a pair df tubular arms extending rfrom said '.body, means `for conducting electrical 4current mounted in each arm, a shaft extending between said arms and connected at each-end'to saidconducting means, a hollow roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, an absorbent material mounted 'on said roller, said arms, conducting nie'ans, shaft yand roller having vcommunicating passageways provided therein, a pair of tubes each connected to 'one of said arms for supplying and withdrawing a coolant therefrom, a tube mounted on said body for being connected to a supply of an electrolyte, said electrolyte tube having an end thereof extending longitudinally of said roller with outlets directed to said absorbent material and means for attachment to a source of electrical current extending through said body and arms and connected to said conducting means.

4. A portable manually operable plating device comprising a hollow body of electrical insulating material and having a handle extending therefrom, a pair of tubular arms extending from said body, a pair of tubular electrical conductors each mounted in an end of one of said arms, a pair of cylindrical insulators, a pair of cylindrical electrical conductors each mounted within one of said cylindrical insulators and having an extension detachably inserted in the bore of one of said tubular conductors, means for detachably connecting each of said cylindrical insulators end to end with one of said arms, each cylindrical insulator having a threaded opening in its side, each cylindrical conductor having a threaded opening in its side in alignment with said insulator opening, a shaft having threaded end portions each inserted into and engaging one of said aligned insulator and conductor openings, said shaft having longitudinal and radial openings formed therein in communication with the bore of said conductors, a hollow roller rotatably mount ed on said shaft, an absorbent material mounted on said roller, means mounted on said body for supplying a stream of electrolyte to said material, means extending through said body and arms vcapable of being connected at one end to a source of electrical current and connected at the other end to said tubular conductors and a pair of tubes each connected to one of said arms with one of said tubes capable of being connected to a source of coolant under pressure.

5. A portable manually operable plating device as `V:eiarmed' in daim' i7 wherein-isere feuer has of annular 'plates aaah'naviagfavthreaeasper pli i tion 'and 'a central opening through which entends said shaft, a tubular Vanode with internallythreade'd end poi'- tions receiving Asaid plate 'threaded-portions therein i'id -a pair of Anuts each :mounted on -said shaft and-positioned aid handle head opening, a nut in threadedengagement with 'said post retaining said handle thereon, ="a v`c`ylindrital yanode having an internally threaded openend in threaded egagement with the 'threaded-peripheral end ff s a'id cylindrical member, said handle and -said'cylindricl'mm- "ber having a pair of aligned side open'ing's,ay pair of tubes each extending through 'one-of said aligned openings `and one tubefbeing an inlet tube capable y'of fconnectio'n to '-a :source -of coolant under pressure, a tube lconnectedto said inlet tube and extending Vthrough theb'o'r'e o'f said cylindrical member `and Vpartially 'into the bore o'f said anode and an absorbent lmaterial mounted around the periphery of s'aid anode. Y Y

'7. A portable 'manually operable plating device boinpri'sin'g a cylindrical handle of electrical insulating terial having 'an opening in the lbase thereof, anelonv'gated member o'f current conducting material-extending Within the bore "of saidhandle and Ihaving "a central cavity provided therein, said member having a 'threadedperipheral end portion, a disc anode positioned agains "the bottom `df said member, `a tubtilar fc'ap having internal threads in threaded engagement with said member Vv/'ith said anode therebetween, Lan 'ab'soiibent material extending into the bore of said cap and -in-`cor`itaet "with heid anode, a threaded connector post extending from said member through said handle opening, a nut mounted on said post retaining said handle thereto, said handle and said member having a pair of aligned side openings, a pair of tubes each extending through one of said aligned openings and one tube being an inlet tube capable of connection to a source of a coolant and a tube connected to said inlet tube and extending within the cavity in said member.

8` A portable manually operable plating device comprising a cylindrical handle of electricalinsulating material having an opening provided in the bottom thereof and a pair of side openings, a plug of current conducting material having a threaded passageway extending from one side to the bottom thereof and a threaded extension of reduced size, a cylindrical elongated conductor having a threaded side opening with the mouth of the bore thereof being threaded and receiving said plug extension therein, said conductor having a threaded peripheral bottom portion extending from said handle, a cylin-V drical cap of electrical insulating material having an opening in the base thereof and internal threads in threaded y engagement with said conductor bottom portion for retaining said cap on and covering said conductor,.a disc anode positioned between said cap and said conductor, Y*

an absorbent material ,insertedV through said cap opening and being in contact with said anode, a Vtube connected to said plug passageway and extending within the bore of said conductor, a coolant inletV tube with threaded endV Y portion extending through one of said handle side openings and in threaded engagement with said conductor sideV Y openings.

9. A portable manually operable plating device cornf prising a hollow open end handle of electrical' insulating material to be manually supported in operating said device, at least one electrical current conducting member mounted within and extending from said handle, an electrode being connected to and in current receiving and heat transferring connection with said current conducting member, an absorbent material in contact with said electrode and capable of retaining an electrolyte received independently and exteriorly thereof for applying said electrolyte to a surface when contacting the same and depositing a plating thereon with passage of electrical current therethrough, said current conducting member having passageways therein for the passage of a coolant capable of transferring heat from said electrode as well as said member and maintaining the same relatively cool, means for conducting the coolant through said handle into and from said member passageways and current conducting means extending through said handle connected to said conducting member and capable of connection to a source of electrical current.

10. Aportable manually operable plating device cornpn'sing a hollow open end handle of electrical insulating material of a conguration for being manually supported in operating said device, at least one electrical current conducting member extending within and from said handle, a liquid retaining electrode being in current receiving connection with said members and having a passageway formed therein, said member having passageways provided therein and being in communication with said electrode passageway, means for conducting a coolant through said handle into and from said member passage- Ways, means extending through said handle for connecting said member to a source of electrical current and an absorbent material in contact with and mounted on said electrode and arranged for receiving an electrolyte independently and exteriorly thereof whereby a plating can be deposited on an electrical conducting surface by moving said material across the same with electrical current passing therethrough.

11. A portable manually operable plating device comprising a cylindrical handle of electrical insulating mai terial capable of being manually supported in the use of trode for depositing a plating on an electrical conducting surface upon contacting the same with electrical current passing therethrough and means connecting said members to said handle and capable of being connected to a source of electrical current.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,680 Ishisaka July 29, 1930 1,918,009 McKinney Nov. 27, 1934 2,146,924 Adey Feb. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 659,922 Great Britain Oct. 3l, 1951 493,108 Great Britain Sept. 30, 1938 18,643 Great Britain of 189,9 672,698 Germany Mar. 8, 1939 392,656 France Oct. 2, 1908 OTHER REFERENCES Fedotieff et al.: Journal of the Electrodepositors Technical Society, vol. 13 (1937), Paper #11, 15 pages. Figs. 8 and 9 and pages 11 and 12 pertinent.

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1. A PORTABLE MANUALLY OPERABLE PLATING DEVICE COMPRISING A BODY OF ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIAL PROVIDING A HANDLE AND HAVING A PAIR OF FORWARDLY EXTENDING TUBULAR ARMS, ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING MEMBERS MOUNTED IN EACH OF SAID ARMS AND EACH HAVING A PASSAGEWAY PROVIDED THERETHROUGH, A SHAFT OF CURRENT CONDUCTING MATERIAL CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID CONDUCTING MEMBERS AND HAVING PASSAGEWAYS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CONDUCTING MEMBER PASSAGEWAYS, A CURRENT CONDUCTING ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, ABSORBENT MATERIAL MOUNTED ON SAID ROLLER FOR HOLDING THE PLATING ELECTROLYTE, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID CONDUCTING MEMBERS TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND A PAIR OF TUBES EACH CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID ARMS FOR CONNECTING SAME TO A SUPPLY OF COOLANT PRESSURE. 